Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:3
"Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated."

I've read the Apocrypha and I think everyone should at least once. There were parts I felt the spirit and other parts I did not. The Lord said there are things true and some things that are not true and are interpolations of men. I can understand how it was not necessary to translate it. When you mingle truth and error the effort to untangle it becomes like salt that has lost its savor. How does it lose its savor? It's by being polluted or contaminated. If you mix sand into salt it has no value as salt any longer. I feel like the experience of reading the Apocrypha was to my benefit but to dig deeper into it would start to go beyond the mark.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."
(Matthew 5:13)

Day 3680

Today's Favorite Verse: Jacob 5:71

Today's Favorite Verse: Jacob 5:71
"And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come."

In the past I disliked coming to this chapter in the Book of Mormon. It is 77 verses long and talks about tree husbandry. Over the years I have come to love it for I see the dispensations in it, and how long the Lord has worked to preserve his vineyard. I can see we are at the very end, that last time the Lord will nourish his vineyard. This is the last time laborers are called to work with Him.

As I was reading through this I thought of the apocrypha and how some have grasped onto a part they call Ezra's eagle. I have had no desire to follow their wresting of these non-canonized verses, especially with the political emphases they put on it.

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;
There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men."
(Doctrine and Covenants 91:1-2)

The impression I received while ready the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees is we would have a much better understanding of the Lord's work reading it, than with twisting the interpolation of man to make it stand for something it is not.

"This great and last dispensation is building steadily to its climax—Zion on earth being joined with Zion from above at the Savior’s glorious return. The Church of Jesus Christ is commissioned to prepare—and is preparing—the world for that day. And so, this Easter, let us truly celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that it portends: His return to reign for a thousand years of peace, a righteous judgment and perfect justice for all, the immortality of all who ever lived upon this earth, and the promise of eternal life. Christ’s Resurrection is the ultimate assurance that all will be put right. Let us be about building up Zion to hasten that day. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
(D. Todd Christofferson, "Preparing for the Lord's Return", Apr 2019 General Conference)

Day 3409

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:52

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:52

"Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

I wondered what the key of knowledge was? The Joseph Smith Translation has what is missing.

"Woe unto you, lawyers! For ye have taken away the key of knowledge, the fulness of the scriptures; ye enter not in yourselves into the kingdom; and those who were entering in, ye hindered."

I love that the key of knowledge is the scriptures, it is of a truth to me. It made me think of the 8th Article of Faith: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

It also made me think of the Apocrypha and why I don't send much time with it.

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;

There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men."

(Doctrine and Covenants 91:1-2)

Day 3143

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:1-2

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha - There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;

There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men."

Joseph Smith was working on translating the Old Testament when he came to the ancient writings called the Apocrypha. He inquired of the Lord regarding them and received this revelation. It was not needful for him to translate them. This chapter also says, "And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom;" (vs 5)

This year I finally felt ready to read them. I have to say it was an interesting experience. There were parts I felt inspired and learned from them. I really enjoyed "The Greek Additions to Esther". I did bookmark several passages in other books. It was cool to find the name Nephi in there. However, there were other parts I felt were kin to fables. Overall, I have to say I read it and felt the other scriptures are what is needful. I really don't feel a desire to read the apocrypha again. Though I would encourage others to read it when they feel they are ready.

Day 2094

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 91:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 91:1-2

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha - There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;

There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men."

The Prophet Joseph Smith was in the middle of translating the Old Testament when he inquired of the Lord on instruction regarding the Apocrypha. He was told it was not needful to translate it for the reason mentioned in these verses. 

What really struck me was the word "interpolations". I didn't know what that word meant so I looked it up. This is what I found on Wikipedia under "Interpolation (manuscripts)"

"An interpolation, in relation to literature and especially ancient manuscripts, is an entry or passage in a text that was not written by the original author. As there are often several generations of copies between an extant copy of an ancient text and the original, each handwritten by different scribes, there is a natural tendency for extraneous material to be inserted into such documents over time. Interpolations originally may be inserted as an authentic explanatory note (for example, [sic]), but may also be included for fraudulent purposes."

I realized as I read that I had no prior knowledge of what "Interpolation" meant, and I've been to college. Joseph Smith on the other hand had such little formal education. If these verses were not given in revelation how would he have come up with this explanation?  It just testified all the more to me that Joseph Smith truly was an inspired prophet of God.

The chapter goes on to say that one can benefit from reading the Apocrypha if they are enlighten by the Spirit. If you receive not the Spirit then there is no benefit. I wonder what I would find by reading it?

Day 510